Retractable RV and trailer cover

ABSTRACT

A wheeled land vehicle covering system configured for one-person operation, the covering system having a covering system frame composed of a plurality of spaced apart uprights which support an overhead track from which a vehicle cover is suspended that is extendable along the track to cover a vehicle and which is retractable to uncover the vehicle. Each one of the uprights is height adjustable to adjust how far a top of the cover is above a roof of a vehicle to maintain a ventilation space therebetween. The cover is configured for one-person removal for storage when it is disposed in the fully retracted position. Such a cover also is configured for one-person installation when it is desired to reinstall the cover. The cover is attached by a hanger arrangement that enables extension and retraction of the cover by enabling relative extensible and retractable movement of the cover along the track.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 16/005,669, filed Jun. 11, 2018 (and issued as U.S.Pat. No. 11,193,293 on Dec. 7, 2021), which claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119(e) in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/517,853filed Jun. 9, 2017, the entire disclosures of each of which areexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention is directed to a suspended cover for wheeled landvehicles that preferably is a trailer, motorhome, bus, or other type ofrecreational vehicle, and more particularly to a height-adjustableretractable suspended cover for such wheeled land vehicles.

BACKGROUND

While wheeled land vehicle covering systems have been attempted in thepast, very few, if any, have enjoyed widespread commercial success, ifany commercial success at all for various sundry reasons including cost,poor reliability, relatively short operation lives, and other factors.One type of wheeled land vehicle that has proved especially challengingto cover are larger wheeled land wheel vehicles, like motorhomes, traveltrailers, campers, camper trailers and the like. There are times when itis desired to cover such relatively large wheeled land vehicles,including when they are not being used, e.g., during storage, to protectthem from the elements, sun damage, wind damage and the like, which canweather, crack, chip, warp, and otherwise degrade the exterior of suchrelatively large wheeled land vehicles.

What is needed is a wheeled land vehicle covering system that is ofsimple, economical, reliable, durable and long-lasting constructionwhich is well suited for covering such relatively large wheeled landvehicles, including motorhomes, travel trailers, campers, campertrailers and the like.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a wheeled land vehicle coveringsystem configured for one-person operation that employs a frame andprotective vehicle cover carried by the frame that is movable between aretracted position, thereby enabling a vehicle parked in a predefined orpre-designated covering area to be removed or enabling a vehicle to beparked in the covering area, and an extended position, where the vehiclecover is extended thereby covering a vehicle parked in the coveringarea. Such a vehicle cover is suspended from an elongate generallyhorizontally extending track that is disposed overhead the vehicle to becovered with the track carried by a plurality of spaced apart generallytransversely extending horizontally booms supported on vertically heightadjustable uprights. Each boom and pair of uprights defines a coversupport of a frame of the covering system that preferably is both heightadjustable and width adjustable.

Such a vehicle cover is made of a flexible, durable and resilientmaterial, e.g., fabric, which not only protects an exterior of thevehicle from the elements, e.g., the sun, rain, wind, snow, sleet andhail, but also from impacts by birds and other falling objects. Thematerial that such a vehicle cover is made from preferably also isbreathable to permit moisture to escape, e.g., evaporate and/or passthrough the cover, as well as to equalize humidity inside the cover tothat of the ambient humidity outside the cover. Such a cover is oftented roof construction providing a ventilation air space between theroof of the vehicle and the top of the cover to help facilitateequalization of humidity and evaporation of moisture from the surface ofthe vehicle when covered with the cover.

Such a covering system is configured to permit retraction of the coverand position it in an out of the way stowaway position disposed at oneend, preferably the rear end, of the vehicle. When retracted or urged tothe stowaway position the cover preferably is urged, folded or bunchedtogether enabling a single person to grasp the cover and remove it bydetaching the cover from the track, such as for storage, cleaning,servicing, replacement or the like. In one preferably embodiment, thecovering system can be configured with a release that is manipulable bythe person to cause or facilitate detachment of the cover from the trackso the person can then remove the cover.

These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent from the following more detailed description of theinvention and accompanying drawings.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

One or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention areillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like referencenumerals represent like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top front right perspective view of a preferred embodimentof a retractable cover of a retractable wheeled land vehicle coveringsystem of the present invention showing the cover partially covering awheeled land vehicle that preferably is elongate recreation vehicle (RV)that can be a motorhome, travel trailer, camper, or the like;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of one side of the cover of theretractable wheeled land vehicle covering system of FIG. 1 with thecover partially extended along a corresponding side of the RV partiallycovering the top and sides of the RV;

FIG. 3 is a top front right perspective view of the retractable wheeledland vehicle covering system of FIG. 1 with the cover in a fullyextended position substantially completely covering the front and rearand both sides of the RV;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the cover the retractable wheeledland vehicle covering system of FIG. 1 in the fully extended positionsubstantially completely covering the RV;

FIG. 5 is a top front right perspective view of the retractable wheeledland vehicle covering system and RV with the RV parked in a coveringarea of the ground underlying the wheels of the RV, and the cover of theretractable wheeled land vehicle covering system in a substantiallycompletely retracted position; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view illustrating the cover in a fullyretracted position in an out of the stowaway position behind the RVparked on the covering area of the ground covered by the cover whenfully extended with the fully retracted preferably disposed in a bundledand/or overlapped configuration that enables and preferably facilitatesdetachment and removal of the cover from the retractable wheeled landvehicle covering system.

Before explaining one or more embodiments of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in any appendeddrawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments, which can bepracticed or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understoodthat the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purposeof description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a preferred but exemplary embodiment of aone-person operable retractable wheeled land vehicle covering system 20constructed in accordance with the present invention having a coversuspension frame 22 formed of at least a plurality of cover supports 24a, 24 b spaced apart along the fore-aft length of a wheeled land vehicle26 parked in a covering area 28 of a section of ground 30 upon which thevehicle 26 rests with the supports 24 a, 24 b carrying an elongate track32 from which a retractable and extensible suspended wheeled landvehicle cover 34 can be and preferably is suspended. Such a retractablewheeled land vehicle covering system 20 of the invention is configuredto enable the vehicle cover 26 to be movable, e.g., extendable andretractable, by a single person, e.g., a single user or a singleoperator, relative to the vehicle 26 along the track 32 between a fullyextended covered vehicle position, like that shown in FIGS. 3 & 4 ,where the vehicle 26 is substantially completely covered by the cover34, and a fully retracted uncovered vehicle position, like that shown inFIGS. 5 & 6 , where the vehicle 26 is substantially uncovered.

While a preferred wheeled land vehicle covering system 20 constructed inaccordance with the invention has a front or fore support 24 a locatedadjacent or alongside a front set 45 of wheels 46 of the vehicle 26 andan aft or rear support 24 b located adjacent or alongside a rear set 47of wheels 46 of the vehicle 26, the covering system 20 can have aplurality of pairs, i.e., at least three, of the supports 24 a, 24 b, 24c, with one of the supports 24 c shown in phantom in FIG. 4 being anintermediate support 24 c disposed between the fore and aft supports 24a, 24 b. With continued reference to FIG. 4 , where such a coveringsystem 20 is equipped with an intermediate support 24 c, it preferablyis located alongside a middle section 39 of the vehicle 26 located abouthalfway between a rear end 38 and front end 54 of the vehicle 26.

The covering area 28 is defined by a generally rectangular section ofground 30 disposed between and underneath the cover supports 24 a, 24 bthat extends underneath the track 32, with the covering area 28 alsodefining a wheeled land vehicle parking target region 29 that provides atarget in which a wheeled land vehicle 26 is to be parked that ensuresthe parked vehicle 26 will be disposed within the covering area 28 andcan be covered by vehicle cover 34. Such a wheeled land vehicle parkingtarget region 29 is generally defined by the wheeled land vehiclecovering area 28 and provides a parking target to a person driving avehicle 26 desired to be covered with the vehicle cover 34 of a wheeledland vehicle covering system 20 of the present invention when parkingsuch a vehicle 26 desired to be covered with cover 34. As such, thecover supports 24 a, 24 b and track 32 carried by the supports 24 a, 24b are configured to provide visual cues that define the wheeled landvehicle parking target region 29 when seeking to park a vehicle 26within the covering area 28 of the covering system 20 the driver seeksto removably cover with cover 34.

When the wheeled land vehicle cover 34 is disposed in a substantiallyfully extended position, like that depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 , a vehicle26 parked in the covering area 28, i.e., vehicle parking target region29, is substantially completely enshrouded or covered by the cover 34thereby protecting the vehicle 26, including an exterior 25 of thevehicle 26, from the elements, including the sun, wind, rain, snow,sleet and hail. When the cover 34 is retracted, such as to asubstantially completely retracted position, like that depicted in FIGS.5 and 6 , the vehicle 26 can be driven away and used. Conversely, whenthe cover 34 is disposed in its substantially completely retractedposition, a vehicle 26 can be parked in the covering area 28 readyingthe vehicle 26 to be covered by the cover 34. As discussed in moredetail below, when the cover 34 is disposed in the substantially fullyretracted position, like that depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the cover 34forms a relatively compact vertically hanging bunched-up orbunched-together arrangement 35 that can advantageously be removed fromthe covering system for storage by a single person, e.g., single user orsingle operator.

The retractable wheeled land vehicle covering system 20 of the presentinvention is advantageously constructed and arranged so the wheeled landvehicle cover 34 can be substantially completely retracted so as to bepositioned in an out of the way stowaway position 36 disposed behind oneend of the vehicle 26, preferably behind a rear end 38 of the vehicle26, when the cover 26 is fully retracted. When disposed in the fullyretracted position, the cover 34 is configured to collapse into acompact configuration or small enough footprint for one person tosupport, e.g., grab and hold, the cover 34 while removing the cover 34from the track 32 for storage of the cover 32 at a location remote fromthe rest of the covering system 20. When the cover 34 is fullyretracted, all portions of the cover 34 come together in avertically-extending bunched-up or bunched-together arrangement 35, suchas depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 , which has a relatively compact footprint40 small enough in peripheral extent 41 that a single person can wrapboth arms around the cover 34 enabling one-person removal of the cover34 from the covering system 20. With continued reference to FIG. 6 , onepreferred wheeled land vehicle cover 34 is configured to collapse into adownwardly-hanging overlapped configuration 40 when moved along thetrack 32 to the fully retracted position with the cover 34 arranged tohave or form at least a plurality, preferably at least a plurality ofpairs, of folds or pleats 37 of the cover 34 overlapping one another.

Such a wheeled land vehicle cover 34 and wheeled land vehicle coveringsystem 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention thereforealso is configured for enabling one-person attachment of the cover 34 tothe track 32. As such, a wheeled land vehicle covering system 20 andwheeled land vehicle cover 34 of the present invention is advantageouslyconfigured for one-person detachment from the track 32 and attachment tothe track 32 preferably via a cover hanger arrangement 43 like that (a)shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-5 and described in commonly owned U.S.Pat. No. 7,194,976, and (b) shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-6 anddescribed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,409,628, the entirety ofeach of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. Track 32preferably is elongate and has an upside U-shaped cross-section withinturned bottom wheel or roller supporting flanges like the track alsoshown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,194,976 and/or 9,409,628, theentirety of each of which are expressly incorporated by referenceherein. The cover hanger arrangement can be or include at least aplurality, preferably at least a plurality of pairs, i.e., at leastthree rollers of the type further shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.7,194,976 and/or U.S. Pat. No. 9,409,628 received in the elongate track32 having an upside U-shaped cross-section with inturned bottom wheel orroller supporting flanges along which rollers or wheels of the rollersride while the cover 34 is pulled or pushed during extending and/orretracting the cover 34. Such a covering system 20, cover 34, track 32and hanger arrangement 43 are configured to enable one-person extensionand retraction of the cover 34 by advantageously being configured toenable movement of the cover 34 via the hanger arrangement 43 along thetrack 32 between the fully retracted position and the fully extendedvehicle covering position.

Such a wheeled land vehicle covering system 20 of the present inventionis advantageously well suited for use to substantially completelypreviously hard to cover larger wheeled land vehicles that havepreviously been challenging, if not virtually impossible, to cover. Thisis particularly true of the preferred vehicle 26 shown in the drawingfigures that is a relatively large wheeled recreational vehicle or RV 44having at least two sets 45 and 47 of fore-aft spaced apart wheels 46that support the vehicle 26 on the ground 30. A vehicle covering system20 of the present invention advantageously is able to hold the weight ofa cover 34 having a length, height and width sufficient, e.g., largeenough, great enough, or big enough, to cover a class A motorhome 48having a length of at least twenty-five feet, typically at leasttwenty-eight feet, and which can be between thirty feet and forty-fivefeet in length, a width of at least seventy inches, typically at leasteighty-five inches, and which can be between ninety inches andone-hundred and five inches in length, and a height of at least ninefeet, typically at least ten feet, and which can be between eleven andfourteen feet. Such a vehicle covering system 20 of the inventionadvantageously can further accommodate a cover 34 large enough tosubstantially completely cover such a class A motorhome 48 of suchheight, length and width dimensions including while a slide out isextended outwardly from both sides 50 and 52 of the vehicle with eachslide out extending outwardly at least two feet, typically at leastthree feet, and which can extend outwardly between two feet and fivefeet from corresponding vehicle side 50 and/or 52.

As depicted in FIGS. 1-6 , such a wheeled land vehicle covering system20 of the invention is advantageously able to cover such a relativelylarge vehicle 26, such as the class A motorhome 48 shown, with a cover34 that can be elongated along a length, width and/or height of thevehicle 26, which substantially completely covers a front 54, top orroof 56, both sides 50 & 52, and rear 38 of the vehicle 26. In apreferred embodiment, the cover 34 is suspended from the track 32 whichoverlies the roof 56 of the vehicle 26, preferably motorhome 48, and hasa track length greater than the length of the vehicle 26, with the cover34 extending downwardly below to adjacent a bottom edge 58 extendingalongside a bottom 60 the vehicle 26, preferably motorhome 48, along thefront 54, rear 38 and both sides 50 & 52 of the vehicle 26, preferablymotorhome 48, when fully covering the vehicle 26, preferably motorhome48. Where the vehicle 26 is an RV 44, such as a motorhome 48, such acovering system 20 has a vehicle cover 34 preferably is configured orconstructed and arranged so that a bottom edge 72 of the cover 34extends alongside the front 54, rear 38, and both sides 50 & 52 of thevehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, at least halfway down the front 54, rear38, and both sides 50 & 52 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, whenat least one of the slide outs of the RV 44, e.g., motorhome 48, isfully deployed and the cover 34 fully extended.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 , when the cover 34 is disposed in afully extended position, the cover 34 has (a) a generally flexibletented top portion or roof 62 of generally triangular or Vee-shapedcross-section extending along substantially the entire length of thetrack 32 and overlying the entire generally rectangular vehicle roof 56,(b) a pair of generally flexible generally vertically downwardlyextending sides 64 & 66 extending downwardly and outwardly from arespective side, branch or leg of the top cover portion 62 each having arespective panel 65 & 67 spaced apart by the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome48, which respectively hang downwardly alongside and generally parallelto a corresponding one of the sides 50 & 52 of the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48, and (c) a pair of generally flexible generally verticallydownwardly extending fore and aft cover portions 68 & 70 whichrespectively hang downwardly alongside corresponding front 54 and rear38 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48. The tented roof 62 of thecover 34 advantageously defines or provides a ventilation space 55 abovethe roof 56 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, which advantageouslyfurther enables water and condensation to escape. Such a tented roof 62is formed of a pair of roof panels 61, 63 which are downwardly sloped ordownwardly inclined so rain, snow, sleet, hail and the like slidedownwardly off the roof 62 of the cover 34 onto the ground.

The aft portion 68 of the cover 34 is formed of a rear cover panel 69extending between side panels 65 & 67 of the cover 34 whichsubstantially completely overlies or overlaps the rear 38 of the vehicle26, e.g., motorhome 48. At least the sides and aft portion, preferablyalso the fore portion, of the cover 34 extend downwardly from the topportion 62 of the cover 34 to a bottom edge 72 of the cover 34 thatextends adjacent to and preferably alongside the bottom edge 58 of thevehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48. In at least one cover embodiment, thecover 34 is constructed and arranged such that the bottom edge 72 of thefore and aft portions and both side portions of the cover 34 extendgenerally alongside and generally parallel to the bottom edge 58 of thevehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, the cover bottom edge 72 overlappingand/or disposed in contact with the bottom vehicle edge 58 substantiallyabout the periphery of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, with allslide-outs fully retracted. In at least one other cover embodiment, thecover 34 is constructed and arranged such that the bottom edge 72 of thefore and aft portions and both side portions of the cover 34 extendbelow the bottom edge 58 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, thecover bottom edge 72 overlapping and/or disposed in contact with thebottom vehicle edge 58 substantially about the periphery of the vehicle26, e.g., motorhome 48, with all slide-outs fully retracted. In anotherembodiment, the cover 34 is constructed and arranged such that itsbottom edge 72 extends below the bottom edge 58 of the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48, such that at least both sides of the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48, are substantially completely covered with a portion ofeach side or side panel of the cover 34 extending or hanging below thebottom edge 58 of the sides of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, whenthe cover 34 is fully extended. In still another embodiment, the cover34 is constructed and arranged such that its bottom edge 72 extendsbelow the bottom edge 58 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, suchthat at least both sides and the front and rear of the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48, are substantially completely covered with each one of thesides of the cover 34 and the fore and aft portions of the cover 34extend or hang below the bottom edge 58 of the sides of the vehicle 26,e.g., motorhome 48, when the cover 34 is fully extended.

In one embodiment, the cover 34 of a wheeled land vehicle coveringsystem 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention isconfigured or constructed and arranged with the bottom edge 72 of thecover 34 extending adjacent to but above the bottom edge 58 of thevehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, when the cover 34 is disposed in a fullyextended position with one such embodiment of the cover 34 of thecovering system 20 having its bottom edge 72 disposed above the vehiclebottom edge 58 but extending alongside a bottom quarter, e.g., bottomquarter-panel, of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, such that at leastthree-quarters of both sides 50 & 52 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome,is covered by the cover 34. In another embodiment, a vehicle coveringsystem 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention has acover 34 configured or constructed and arranged with its bottom edge 72extending adjacent to but above the bottom edge 58 of the vehicle 26,e.g., motorhome 48, when the cover 34 is disposed in a fully extendedposition with at least one slide-out of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome48, fully extended or deployed, with one such embodiment of the cover 34of the vehicle covering system 20 configured or constructed and arrangedsuch that its bottom edge 72 is disposed above the vehicle bottom edge58 but extends alongside a bottom quarter, e.g., bottom quarter-panel,of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, such that at least three-quartersof both sides 50 & 52 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, is coveredby the cover 34 when at least one slide-out of the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48, is fully deployed. In a further embodiment, a vehiclecovering system 20 constructed in accordance with the present inventionhas a cover 34 configured or constructed and arranged with its bottomedge 72 extending adjacent to but above the bottom edge 58 of thevehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, when the cover 34 is disposed in a fullyextended position while slide-outs on opposite sides of the vehicle 26,e.g., motorhome 48, are simultaneously deployed, with one suchembodiment of the cover 34 of the vehicle covering system 20 configuredor constructed and arranged such that its bottom edge 72 is disposedabove the vehicle bottom edge 58 but extends alongside a bottom quarter,e.g., bottom quarter-panel, of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, suchthat at least three-quarters of both sides 50 & 52 of the vehicle 26,e.g., motorhome 48, is covered by the cover 34 when slide-outs onopposite sides of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, are simultaneouslydeployed.

In another embodiment, the fully extended cover 34 has a bottom edge 72that extends adjacent and above the bottom edge 58 of the vehicle 26,e.g., motorhome 48, when the cover 34 is disposed in a fully extendedposition with one such embodiment of the cover 34 of the wheeled landvehicle covering system 20 having a bottom edge 72 disposed above thevehicle bottom edge 58 but extending alongside a bottom quarter orquarter-panel of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, such that at leastthree-quarters of both sides 50 & 52 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome48, is covered by the cover 34, when at least one slide-out of thevehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, is fully extended or fully deployed. Instill another embodiment, the fully extended cover 34 has a bottom edge72 that extends adjacent and above the bottom edge 58 of the vehicle 26,e.g., motorhome 48, when the cover 34 is disposed in a fully extendedposition with one such embodiment of the cover 34 of the vehiclecovering system 20 having a bottom edge 72 disposed above the vehiclebottom edge 58 but extending alongside a bottom quarter or quarter-panelof the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, such that at least three-quartersof both sides 50 & 52 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, is coveredby the cover 34, when at least one slide-out of the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48, is fully extended or fully deployed.

In still another embodiment, the fully extended cover 34 has a bottomedge 72 that extends below the bottom edge 58 of the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48, when the cover 34 is disposed in a fully extended positionwith one such preferred cover 34 of the wheeled land vehicle coveringsystem 20 having a bottom edge 72 disposed below the vehicle bottom edge58 but spaced above the ground 30 at least one inch when fully extendedto substantially completely cover the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48,having at least one slide out extended. Where the vehicle 26 is an RV44, such as a motorhome 48, such a vehicle covering system 20 and cover34 preferably is configured or constructed and arranged so that a bottomedge 72 of the cover 34 extends alongside the front 54, rear 38, andboth sides 50 & 52 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, greater thanhalfway down the front 54, rear 38, and both sides 50 & 52 of thevehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, when at least one of the slide outs ofthe RV 44, e.g., motorhome 48, is fully deployed and the cover 34 fullyextended.

During use and operation, such a cover 34 of a wheeled land vehiclecovering system 20 in accordance with the present invention can bemanually grasped at or adjacent one of the leading front side edges 75 &76 of respective forwardly disposed or leading portions of correspondingpanels of the cover 34 by a user or operator and pulled forwardlytranslating or displacing one or more portions of the cover 34 along thetrack 32 relative to the track 32 thereby extending the cover 34 from ator adjacent a rearward retracted position, such as the fully retractedposition shown in FIGS. 5 & 6 , forwardly towards a fully extendedposition, like the fully extended position shown in FIGS. 2 & 3 ,substantially completely covering the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48.When the cover 34 grasped and pulled forwardly when the cover 34 isfully retracted and rearwardly disposed in a bunched up or overlappingcompact or minimized footprint configuration, like the downwardlyhanging overlapped configuration 40 depicted in FIGS. 5 & 6 , graspingand pulling part of the cover 34 generally forwardly towards a front ofthe vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, being covered unfurls overlappingand/or bunched up portions of the initially stowaway-ready cover 34 assides of the cover 34 are pulled along the track 32 around the rear ofthe vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, and along opposites sides of thevehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48.

Even when the cover 34 is disposed in its fully retracted stowawayposition or condition depicted in FIGS. 5 & 6 , such as when disposed ina bunched-together, bundled together and/or overlapped minimal footprintconfiguration, like that depicted in FIGS. 5 & 6 , the cover 34 issuspended from the track 32 which in turn is carried by fore-aft spacedapart supports 24 a, 24 b of the cover suspension frame 22. Whenunfurled from the bunched-together, bundled together and/or overlappedminimal footprint configuration, like that depicted in FIGS. 5 & 6 , thesuspended cover 34 rides along the track 32 which is substantiallyimmovably fixed in place by being rigidly fixed to the supports of theframe 22 enabling movement of the cover 34 between the fully extendedand fully retracted positions, such as those respectively depicted inFIGS. 3 & 4 and 5 & 6 . In one embodiment, the cover 34 can be suspendedfrom a track 32 in the manner (a) shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-5and/or described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,194,976, and/or (b)shown in one or more of FIGS. 1-6 and/or described in commonly ownedU.S. Pat. No. 9,409,628, the entirety of each of which are expresslyincorporated by reference herein. In one preferred embodiment, at leasta plurality, preferably at least a plurality of pairs, i.e., at leastthree rollers of the type shown and described in one or more of U.S.Pat. No. 7,194,976 and/or U.S. Pat. No. 9,409,628 received in anelongate track 32 having an upside U-shaped cross-section with inturnedbottom wheel or roller supporting flanges along which rollers or wheelsof the rollers ride while the cover 34 is pulled or pushed duringextending and/or retracting the cover 34.

If desired, the track 32 can be adjustably attached or mounted to one ormore of all of the supports 24 a, 24 b of the cover suspension frame 22in a manner that enables adjustment, e.g., fine or micro adjustment, ofthe position of the track 32 relative to one or more or each one of thesupports 24 a, 24 b of the cover suspension frame 22 enabling adjustablepositioning of one or more portions of the track 32 and/or cover 34suspended from the track 32 relative to one or more or each one of thesupports 24 a, 24 b of the cover suspension frame 22. If desired, thetrack 32 can be adjustably mounted to the supports 24 a, 24 b in amanner similar to or like that depicted in one or more of FIGS. 13-16and/or described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,216,798, the entiretyof which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. If desired, thetrack 32 can be mounted, preferably adjustably mounted to a beam, whichin turn is adjustably mounted to the supports 24 a, 24 b in a mannerlike depicted in one or more of FIGS. 13-16 and/or described in commonlyowned U.S. Pat. No. 9,216,798.

In a preferred embodiment, the track 32 can be adjustably mounted to thesupports 24 a, 24 b of the frame 22 enabling the height and/orpositioning of the track 32 and/or cover 34 above the roof of thevehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, and/or the ground 30 from which thecover 34 is suspended and/or attached to the track 32 to be adjusted. Ifdesired, the track 32 can be attached to or mounted on a beam carried byor attached to one or more of all of the supports 24 a, 24 b of thecover suspension frame 22, such as in the manner depicted in one or moreof FIGS. 13-16 and/or described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No.9,216,798 the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by referenceherein. In one embodiment. Track 32 can be adjustably mounted to thebeam and/or beam can be adjustably mounted to one or more or each one ofthe supports 24 a, 24 b of the frame 22 in accordance with the mannerand/or arrangement employed to carry out adjustable mounting of the beamto the booms in FIGS. 13-16 and/or as described in commonly owned U.S.Pat. No. 9,216,798 and/or the track to the beams in FIGS. 13-16 and/oras described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,216,798.

If desired, the track 32 can be adjustably attached or mounted to one ormore of all of the supports 24 a, 24 b of the cover suspension frame 22in a manner that enables height adjustment, e.g., fine or micro heightadjustment, of the height above the roof of the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48, and/or the ground 30 from which the cover 34 is suspendedand/or attached to the track 32. If desired, the track 32 can beadjustable attached to or mounted on a beam carried by or attached toone or more of all of the supports 24 a, 24 b of the cover suspensionframe 22, such as in the manner depicted in one or more of FIGS. 13-16of commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,216,798 the entirety of which isexpressly incorporated by reference herein.

Cover 34 can be made of a woven or non-woven fabric, a fabric composedpartially or completely of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), such asGORE-TEX or the like, vinyl, canvas, or another type of suitable coverfabric including those disclosed in one or more of U.S. Pat. Nos.7,194,976, 9,216,798, and/or 9,409,628. The leading edges or ends of thecover 34 preferably are releasably attachable to one another in a mannerthat joins them together around the front end of the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48, such as by using a hook and loop attachment arrangement,e.g., VELCRO, a zipper or zipper arrangement, or another suitable typeof releasable fastening arrangement including one or more suchreleasable fastening arrangements, engagement arrangements, or the likedisclosed in one or more of U.S. Pat. No. 9,216,798, and/or U.S. Pat.No. 9,409,628.

If desired, a portion of the cover 34 extending about enough of theperiphery of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, being covered therebyis configured or otherwise constructed and arranged to be at leastpartially tightened around, brought into engagement or otherwise urgedagainst one or more of the sides, front and/or rear of the vehicle 26,e.g., motorhome 48 to help secure the cover 34 around and to the vehicle26, e.g., motorhome 48. In one preferred embodiment, the cover 34 isconfigured to be releasably cinched around and against the sides, frontand/or rear of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, such as in the mannershown in FIGS. 2-4 and/or FIGS. 7-11 of U.S. Pat. No. 9,409,628. Ifdesired, such a cinching arrangement can be formed in, with or of partof a band or tube within the cover 34 that extends substantially aboutthe entire periphery of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, such as ator adjacent the bottom edge 72 of the cover 34, enabling releasablecinching or tightening of the cover 34 against the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48.

In another preferred embodiment, a wheeled land vehicle covering system20 of the present invention can be constructed and arranged or otherwiseconfigured with a drive (not shown) carried by or mounted to part of theframe 22, such as to one or more of the supports 24 a, 24 b of the frame22, and disposed in operable cooperation with a track 32 and top portionof the cover 34 enabling automated displacement or translation of thecover 34 relative to the track 32 by the drive thereby enablingautomated extension and retraction of the cover 34 using the drive. Sucha drive can be and preferably is remotely controlled, such as via ahand-held wireless remote operable by an operator of the vehicle 26,e.g., motorhome 48, from within the vehicle 26. If desired, such a drivecan be in the form of a cable, chain or belt driven garage door opener(not shown) with its cable, chain or belt operatively connected orotherwise operably coupled to one or more of the rollers in the track 32from which the top portion of the cover 34 is suspended to displace oneor of the rollers in a desired direction relative to the track 32depending on whether the cover 34 is being extended or retracted. Such amodified or adapted garage door opener can be carried by or otherwisemounted to part of the suspension frame 22, such as carried by ormounted to one of the supports 24 a, 24 b of the frame 22, with thewireless remote of the garage door operable by a driver or occupant ofthe vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, from within the vehicle 26, e.g.,motorhome 48, to extend or retract the cover 34 while within the vehicle26, e.g., motorhome 48.

Each one of the supports 24 a, 24 b of the frame 22 of a wheel landvehicle covering system 20 constructed in accordance with the presentinvention can and preferably does have a generally upwardly extendingupright 74 and a track and cover supporting boom 76 extending generallyoutwardly therefrom that carries the track 32 from which the cover 34 isremovably suspended. In one embodiment, the upright 74 of each support24 a, 24 b is length adjustable producing a height-adjustable upright 74producing a height-adjustable wheeled land vehicle covering system 20enabling the height of the track 32 from the ground 30 to be adjustedfor vehicles of different heights. In one embodiment, the heightadjustable supports 24 a, 24 b, constructed with height adjustableuprights 74, enabling the top portion 62 of the cover 34 to be suspendedor hung from the track 32 at least one foot, preferably at least aplurality of feet, above the roof 56 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome48, to enable the sides of the cover 34 to easily slide or flow aroundand along opposite sides of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, duringextension of the cover 34 when covering the vehicle. Each generallyvertically extending upright 74 is joined to a generally horizontallyextending overhead boom 76 by an inclined corner coupler 77 thatpreferably functions are a joint 79 that strengthens each respectivesupport 24 a, 24 b.

Each such length and height adjustable upright 74 can be of telescopingconstruction such as in the form of a telescoping tubular pole, post orthe like formed of at least a plurality, preferably at least a pluralityof pairs, i.e., at least three, tubular telescoping sections that enableheight adjustment with a locking arrangement that is employed tosubstantially immovably fix the length of the height adjustable upright74 once telescoped to the desired length to achieve the desired trachand cover height. Another preferred height adjustable uprightconstruction is in the form of a length adjustable upright 74 formed ofa plurality, preferably at least a plurality of pairs of, i.e. at leastthree, sections or segments, each of which can be tubular, which can becoupled, stacked, attached, mounted or otherwise disposed end-to-endwith as many such sections or segments arranged end-to-end and fixedtogether as needed or desired to achieve the desired upright length toachieve the desired track and cover height.

With reference to FIG. 6 , each upright 74 of each support 24 a, 24 b isformed of a plurality, preferably a plurality of pairs, of uprightsegments 80, 82, 84, which each preferably are tubular, at least aplurality of upright segments 82, 84 of which are verticallydisplaceable relative to at least one of the upright segments 80enabling the respective boom 76 and track 32 to be raised or loweredrelative to the roof 56 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome, to becovered with cover 34. In a preferred embodiment, top upright segment 84is telescopically movable relative to intermediate upright segment 82and intermediate upright 82 is telescopically movable relative to thebottom or fixed upright segment 80. An actuator 86, such as a hand crank88, can be and preferably is used to telescopically selectively raise orlower each one of the telescopically vertically displaceable uprightsegments 82 and/or 84 relative to the fixed or bottom upright segment 80to raise or lower the track 32. Raising or lowering the track 32 in thismanner enables the top or roof of the cover 34 to be raised or loweredrelative to the roof 56 of the vehicle 26, e.g., motorhome, beingcovered by cover 34.

The boom 76 preferably also is length adjustable thereby enablingadjustment of at least the lateral or horizontal position of the track32 from the upright 74 of the support 24 a or 24 b or supports 24 a and24 b so the track 32 generally overlies the center of the roof 56 of thevehicle 26, e.g., motorhome 48, to position the upper portion of thecover 34 generally over the center of the roof 56 of the vehicle. In onepreferred embodiment, the length adjustable boom 76 is of telescopicconstruction constructed much like the telescopic length and heightadjustable upright discussed above with a locking device employed tosubstantially immovably fix the length of the boom when the desiredposition of the track and cover relative to the vehicle is achieved. Inanother preferred embodiment, the boom 76 is formed of elongate segmentsor sections which can be tubular and which can be and preferably areattachable to one another such as in an end-to-end arrangement as neededto achieve the desired length desired to position the track 32 and cover34 relative to the vehicle when parked in the covering space to ensureproper covering of the vehicle 26 with the cover.

In one preferred embodiment of a wheeled land vehicle covering system 20constructed in accordance with the present invention, each one of thesupports 24 a, 24 b of the cover suspension frame 22 is of downturned orupside-down U-shaped construction such that each support 24 a, 24 b isformed of a pair of uprights 74 disposed on or along opposite sides of avehicle, e.g., motorhome, parked in the covering area, between whichextends an elongate track-carrying boom 76. At least one and preferablyboth of the vertical uprights 74 of each such downturned and/or upsidedown U-shaped support 24 a, 24 b is of length and height adjustableconstruction to enable macro-height adjustment of the height of thetrack 32 and/or height of the upper portion of the cover 34 above theroof of the vehicle, e.g., motorhome and ground. Such height adjustablyadvantageously enables resizing or adjustment of the frame 22 viaupright length and height adjustment to accommodate vehicles, e.g.,motorhomes, of different heights. Each generally horizontal boom 76 ofeach such downturned upside down U-shaped support 24 a, 24 b extendingbetween the vertical uprights 74 is length-adjustable to enable thespace between the uprights 74 to which the boom 76 is connected to beadjusted such as to adjustably size the frame 22 for vehicles, e.g.,motorhomes, of different widths.

If desired, the covering system 20 preferably includes a wireless remotethat remotely controls operation and which is manipulable or operable toat least one of extend the cover covering a vehicle parked in thecovering area and retract the cover from the vehicle uncovering thevehicle. Such a wireless remote preferably is of handheld constructionthat can be handheld during use and operation including during coverextension and retraction.

Understandably, the present invention has been described above in termsof one or more preferred embodiments and methods. It is recognized thatvarious alternatives and modifications can be made to these embodimentsand methods that are within the scope of the present invention. It isalso to be understood that, although the foregoing description anddrawings describe and illustrate in detail one or more preferredembodiments of the present invention, to those skilled in the art towhich the present invention relates, the present disclosure will suggestmany modifications and constructions as well as widely differingembodiments and applications without thereby departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. The present invention, therefore, isintended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed:
 1. A retractable cover system for removably covering awheeled land vehicle when the wheeled vehicle is parked on groundadjacent to the retractable cover system, the retractable cover systemcomprising: (a) an upstanding frame extending upwardly from the ground;(b) an elongate track extending a length, the elongate track beingcarried by the frame and overlying the wheeled land vehicle when thewheeled land vehicle is parked on ground adjacent to the retractablecover system; and (c) a downwardly hanging cover carried by the track,the cover movable between a retracted uncovered position for uncoveringthe wheeled land vehicle and an extended covered position for coveringthe wheeled land vehicle, the cover hanging downwardly from the trackalong a first length of the track when in the extended covered position,the cover hanging downwardly from the track along a second length of thetrack when in the retracted uncovered position, the second length beingless than the first length.
 2. The retractable wheeled land vehiclecover system of claim 1, wherein the track comprises an adjustableheight above the ground.
 3. The retractable wheeled land vehicle coversystem of claim 2, wherein the cover extends around a rear of thewheeled land vehicle, the cover having one side panel extending alongone side of the wheeled land vehicle when the cover is extended towardthe covered position and another side panel extending along an oppositeside of the wheeled land vehicle when the cover extended toward thecovered position.
 4. The retractable wheeled land vehicle cover systemof claim 3, wherein the cover gathers behind the rear of the wheeledland vehicle when the cover is moved to the retracted uncoveredposition.
 5. The retractable wheeled land vehicle cover system of claim4, wherein the cover hangs downwardly from the track substantially thelength of the wheeled land vehicle when the cover is moved to theextended covered position.
 6. The retractable wheeled land vehicle coversystem of claim 4, wherein the cover has a bottom edge that extendsdownwardly at least as far as a bottom edge extending alongside a bottomof the wheeled land vehicle.
 7. The retractable wheeled land vehiclecover system of claim 6, wherein the cover is a breathable flexiblefabric configured to allow moisture to pass therethrough.
 8. Theretractable wheeled land vehicle cover system of claim 7, wherein thecover has a pitched roof from the track when disposed in the extendedcovered position providing a ventilation air space between a roof of thevehicle and a portion of the cover forming the pitched roof.
 9. Theretractable wheeled land vehicle cover system of claim 8, wherein thecover comprises a cover fabric comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene. 10.The retractable wheeled land vehicle cover system of claim 9, whereinthe cover fabric is GORE-TEX.
 11. The retractable cover system of claim1, wherein the cover is attached to the track along the first length ofthe track when in the extended covered position and attached to thetrack along the second length when in the retracted uncovered position.12. The retractable cover system of claim 1, wherein the cover includesa cover edge having a cover edge length, wherein the cover edge lengthis attached to the track along the first length of the track when in theextended covered position and attached to the track along the secondlength when in the retracted uncovered position.
 13. A retractable coversystem for removably covering a land vehicle when the wheeled vehicle isparked on the ground adjacent to the retractable cover system, theretractable cover system comprising: (a) an upstanding frame extendingupwardly from the ground, the frame having a pair of spaced apart coversupports, each one of the cover supports having a pair of elongatevertically adjustable uprights generally interconnected by an elongatelength-adjustable overhead boom; (b) an elongate track extending alength, the elongate track being carried by the frame and overlying thewheeled land vehicle at least a length of the wheeled land vehicle whenthe wheeled land vehicle is parked on ground adjacent to the retractablecover system; and (c) a downwardly hanging cover carried by the track,the cover movable between a retracted uncovered position for uncoveringthe wheeled land vehicle and an extended covered position for coveringthe wheeled land vehicle, the cover hanging downwardly from the trackalong a first length of the track when in the extended covered position,the cover hanging downwardly from the track along a second length of thetrack when in the retracted uncovered position, the second length beingless than the first length.
 14. The retractable wheeled land vehiclecover system of claim 13, wherein the cover is a breathable flexiblefabric configured to allow moisture to pass therethrough.
 15. Theretractable wheeled land vehicle cover system of claim 14, wherein thecover has a pitched roof from the track when disposed in the extendedcovered position providing a ventilation air space between a roof of thevehicle and a portion of the cover forming the pitched roof.
 16. Theretractable wheeled land vehicle cover system of claim 15, wherein thecover comprises a cover fabric comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene. 17.The retractable wheeled land vehicle cover system of claim 16, whereinthe cover fabric is GORE-TEX.
 18. A retractable cover system forremovably covering a land vehicle when the wheeled vehicle is parked onground adjacent to the retractable cover system, the retractable coversystem comprising: (a) an upstanding frame extending upwardly from theground, the frame having a pair of spaced apart cover supports, each oneof the cover supports having a pair of elongate vertically adjustableuprights generally interconnected by an elongate length-adjustableoverhead boom; (b) an elongate track extending a length, the elongatetrack being carried by the frame and overlying the wheeled land vehiclewhen the wheeled land vehicle is parked on the ground adjacent to theretractable cover system at least a length of the wheeled land vehicle;and (c) a downwardly hanging cover carried by the track, the covermovable between a retracted uncovered position for uncovering thewheeled land vehicle and an extended covered position for covering thewheeled land vehicle when the wheeled land vehicle is parked on groundadjacent to the retractable cover system, the cover hanging downwardlyfrom the track along a first length of the track when in the extendedcovered position, the cover hanging downwardly from the track along asecond length of the track when in the retracted uncovered position, thesecond length being less than the first length; and wherein the coverextends around a rear of the wheeled land vehicle, the cover having oneside panel extending along one side of the wheeled land vehicle when thecover is extended toward the covered position and another side panelextending along an opposite side of the wheeled land vehicle when thecover extended toward the covered position.
 19. The retractable wheeledland vehicle cover system of claim 18, wherein the cover gathers behindthe rear of the wheeled land vehicle when the cover is moved to theretracted uncovered position.
 20. The retractable wheeled land vehiclecover system of claim 18, wherein the cover has a pitched roof from thetrack when disposed in the extended covered position providing aventilation air space between a roof of the vehicle and a portion of thecover forming the pitched roof.